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Do you know we lose about 2,00,000 of flora a year to Tobacco production? As per WHO stats, about 3.5 million hectares of global land is converted to Tobacco fields each year. This does not only affect ecosystems destructively but also has an impact on the production of other important crops.
World Fights against Tobacco Epidemic
Today, Despite the warnings and concerns about health, people have made it part of their everyday needs. Shockingly, Among the Huge number of Tobacco consumers, there are middle schoolers and high schoolers who consume such products.
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Solely in India, There are about 267 million tobacco users. As per a survey, This consumption contributes to about 1.2 million Indian Deaths. In terms of consumption and production of tobacco, India ranks second. The reason is tobacco is available at very cheap prices in India. This also contributes to the consumption of smokeless Tobacco in the form of Gutkha, Khaini.
The world is continuously fighting the tobacco epidemic and lose approximately 8 million people to the consumption of Tobacco. Over time, generations consume more of it, which hampers food production, resulting in crises.
WHO on World No Tobacco Day
Every Year on 31st May, World spread awareness about the harmful effects of Tobacco. In 2022, WHO came up with a theme to “protect the environment”. Themes are chosen every year to help the world engage in productive activities which can improve the lifestyle and ecosystems through responsible citizenships across the globe.
This year WHO came up with another theme that can urge people to “Grow Food, Not Tobacco”. The major objectives for this theme are:
- To mobilize the government to use savings for crop substitution and support farmers to switch to improve food security
- Educate tobacco-growing communities about the benefits of growing sustainably instead of tobacco.
- Reduce tobacco farming to combat desertification and environmental degradation.
What 2023 theme demand?
Tobacco consumption has become a cool trend in the minds of many young people. But, it leads to major costs for society as well.
The global food crisis can be prevented by curbing some of its existing causes. The fact that this also interferes with the right to education and violates basic human rights is also important to note. Clearly, land used for tobacco production can be used to achieve Zero Hunger, a Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations.
Through the 2023 Campaign, Governments are urged to make suitable conditions for farmers to shift to the consumption of food crops.
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